appreciation luncheon
By MCC Suzanne Speight ans from World War II and the
Special Contributor Korean War. presented the col

Hundreds of local city gov-
ernment, civic and busi-
ness leaders turned out
to pay tribute to service mem-
bers at the 2007 Jacksonville
Chamber of Commerce Military
Appreciation Luncheon at the
Hyatt Regency Riverfront Nov.
13.
Uniformed personnel repre-
senting all the military branch-
es attended the lunch, including
active duty, reservists, retirees
and veterans.
The China-Burma-India
Color Guard, a group of veter-

ors and Chaplain Lt. Col. Steve
Thompson, of the Florida Air
National Guard gave the invoca-
tion, followed by remarks from
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton.
"Jacksonville is a city that val-
ues our military citizens," said
Peyton, referencing the fact that
Jacksonville is one of the few cit-
ies in the country that offers a
property tax reduction for resi-
dents who serve in a combat zone.
Peyton said Jacksonville was a
winner in the Base Realignment
and Closing Commission process,

Three months after his initial interview in
November 2006 with the White House command
master chief and NCIS agents in Washington,
D.C.,. Naval Hospital Jacksonville CS2 Sonny Lalatag
finally learned he was accepted to the White House
Mess. He will have the distinct honor of cooking for the
president of the United States, his family and guests.
Lalatag never imagined he would end up in such a
coveted spot, especially when he first explored entering
military service. Two days after reading "Let the Journey
Begin" on the Navy's Web site, Lalatag called a recruiter.
He had completed three years of college in the Republic
of the Philippines studying computer science, yet he was
limited in his choice of career fields.
He entered the Navy in June 1999 as a non-designated
striker and later gravitated to the rate of culinary special-
ist, although it wasn't his first choice at the time. Because
he wasn't a U.S. citizen, he couldn't get a security clear-
ance and without it, he couldn't qualify for a career path
that complimented his education.
"I couldn't get a security clearance when I enlisted and

Photo by Marsha Childs
CS2 Sonny Lalatag prepares lunch at the Naval Hospital
Jacksonville Child Street Cafe. He has been selected for duty
at the White House.
therefore, I couldn't get gunner's mate or information tech-
nology," he explained. Fortunately, Lalatag liked cooking.
While assigned on board USS Halyburton from
November 1999 to January 2003, Lalatag worked in the

wardroom. "At first the officers didn't take me seriously,"
he said, "They treated me like a waiter."
However, over time they came to appreciate the quality
of his food, the extra servings .and his efforts to make their
meals more appealing to the eye.
"I love cooking because I like to see people appreciate
what I do," he stated. It's not just about cooking, but
about making a difference; not just at work but also in the
community."
At the urging of his leading petty officer, CS1 Kelvin
Wiggins, Lalatag applied for the position at the White
House. He said, "I wanted something different, but I
thought I was limited to working on ships and galleys."
It was the encouragement from Wiggins that led him to
apply and he was the only cook from the hospital to pur-
sue the opportunity.
After months of background checks, Lalatag will report
for his new assignment in February 2008. He will have one
more chance to shine before reporting for White House duty.
He will be accompanied to Washington by his wife,
Estela, also a Filipino and a Navy cook who he met in
church four years ago. "It's an honor for me to work for
the president. Even if I don't get sent to Iraq, it is also
part of my contribution to be patriotic," he said.

Photos by Kaylee LaRocque
Ten-year-old Jayshun Johnson and 6-year-old Alazadria Williams help stock the NAS Jax Food
Locker after helping deliver a load of food items collected by the children at the NAS Jax
Youth Activities Center during the holiday food drive Nov. 14.

The NAS Jacksonville Food Locker
needs donations for this year's holi-
day food drive to help shipmates in
need.
Help a military family enjoy a nutritious
holiday meal for Christmas by donating
boxes of stuffing, mashed potatoes, pack-
aged gravy, canned corn and green beans,
cranberry sauce and other non-perishable
items.
Donations can be dropped off in the bins
near the commissary doors or in Building 1,
Room 242 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Once all the items are collected and eli-
gible families are determined, volunteers
will create bags with all the fixings needed
for a traditional holiday meal. The bags
will also contain a voucher for a free tur-
key available at the base commissary. All
monetary donations to the food locker go
into a special account to purchase these
vouchers.
Food items are also available year-round
to families screened by the Navy and
Marine Corps Relief Society, command
master chiefs and the base chaplain's
office.
For more information, call 542-
2934/4545.

Daquan Johnson and Tiara Grace lead the
group as they donate food items to the NAS
Jax Food Locker.

TOUCHING pal Day ,
B A uB Mark your calendars for the 50th anniversary ' .i.
of USO Pal Day in St. Augustine Dec. 1. Pal Day
is an annual appreciation event in which many

St. Augustine attractions offer free admission to
active duty military and their families. The Elks
Lodge also provides a free lunch.
For more information about the USO and the
programs it offers, call 778-2821.

Helping Out
Hospital Me-'- c-rIa Thp Homeless

- 1

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-

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I

� �A�v I � � I �

By Sarah Smiley
Special Contributor
Dustin has suggested that if I
write any more positive stories
about him, people are likely to
quit reading this column. In the spirit
of giving thanks this week, howev-
er, I'm willing to take that chance to
tell you about just one of the ways
in which Dustin takes care of yours
truly.
For all the mistakes that Dustin,
the military pilot trained for war, nQt
sensitivity and domesticity, has cre-
ated (need I even mention the time he
gave me a Home Depot gift 'card for
Christmas or when he took the kids to
the wrong restaurant for their birth-
day party? How about all the times
he has left lunches, backpacks, and
groceries on top of the car?), he is per-
haps at his best when I am making
my own mistakes, which of course,
isn't that often.
In fact, Dustin has sometimes said
that I am a tornado and he is the man
with a broom coming behind me to
clean, up the mess, whether it is figu-
rative, literal or, more likely, finan-
cial. Two weeks ago, Dustin cleaned
up all three.
The five of us-Dustin, our three
' boys and me were staying in a hotel
45 miles away from home because
I was speaking at a conference that
began early in the morning. While I
.; showered and went over my notes,
< Dustin took the boys to Waffle House,
SI was having a leisurely time, enjoy-
- ing the quiet of the hotel room, when
coming out of the shower and putting
on my lotion, I realized that my face

I Am

was red and irritated.
"I'll have to spend a lot of time on
my makeup this morning," I told
myself. That's when my gut sank to
my knees and my eyes flew open.
That's when I realized I had forgotten
every bit of my makeup at home.
When Dustin and the boys returned
from breakfast, I was panicked. "You
look fine without makeup," Dustin
said, earning himself the first bonus
point. However, in just one hour, I'd
be on stage talking to what was esti-
mated to be a crowd of 400 people.,
Going without makeup was pos-
sible, but not ideal. Dustin saw my'
fear, and without further hesitation,
loaded all of us in the car, drove me
to the nearest mall and waited while
I bought new makeup and paid for
what was a very expensive mistake.
But Dustin never made me feel
guilty. He circled the parking lot of
the auditorium while I put on my new
face. Then he kissed me goodbye and
took the boys to ride go karts while I
went inside to speak to the crowd.
On the way home from the confer-
ence, I promised Dustin that I would
make an effort to be more organized
in the future. I couldn't have known
then, however, that just three days
after that, my brother would visit and,
bring me an acoustic guitar, an item
that would consume all my attention
for the next several weeks.
While I sat in the living room.trying
to apply my knowledge of the piano
to the strings of the guitar, I let the
family's clean laundry pile up on the
bedroom floor until it was a mountain
almost two feet tall. I'm not kidding.

One night, Ford was on his way to
Cub Scouts and couldn't find the socks
to his uniform. Looking back, I guess
it might have seemed lazy or not help-
ful that I sat on the couch and played
the guitar while Dustin looked under
beds and seat cushions in search of
the socks. But really, I sat there out
of resignation. The pile of laundry
seemed insurmountable; the socks a
lost cause.
Suddenly I heard Dustin yelling
from the bedroom. '"Wait a minute....I
think I've....hold on....I've got some-
thing. .." He was overly dramatic, try-
ing to make a point about the laundry.
But then he appeared in the doorway,
and I couldn't help but laugh. On his
shoulders and head, he had piled lay-
ers of socks, undershirts, underwear
and gym shorts. He looked as if he
had barely escaped the laundry alive.
Then he held up Ford's socks and
said, "It was a close call, but finally I
got them."
Our house and our clothes might
not always be clean. We might be for-
getful when it comes to packing. And
sometimes we leave things on top of
the car and drive away. But this week
I am thankful that Dustin and I can
not only clean up each other's messes,
but that we have enough energy and
love left over to laugh about it, too.

Sarah Smiley can be reached for
comments at www.sarahsmiley.
com.

Hey MoneyMan!
I bought a house three
years ago using an adjust-
able rate mortgage. My
interest rate has reset
(higher) and my property
was appraised for more,
which resulted in higher
tax payments too.
Both of these increases
have put my mortgage pay-
ment beyond my means. I
honestly can't afford this
home anymore. Do I have
any options other than fore-
closure?
MoneyMan Sez:
Falling behind on your
mortgage payments can
leave you feeling hopeless,
especially if you are feeling
that foreclosure is looming
in the near future. There
are still options for you to
consider.
Foreclosure should be
your last resort, as it will
ruin your credit and you
should avoid it if at all pos-
sible. Consider these alter-
natives:Assumption- A

buyer can take over your
debt and make the pay-
ments.
Short sale- This is
where you sell your home,
but the proceeds are less
than the amount you owe
on the mortgage, but the
lender agrees to accept the
amount as payment in full.
Deed in lieu of foreclo-
sure- You transfer the title
to the lender in exchange
for cancellation of the debt.
Usually you must try to
sell your house for 90 days
before this option may be
considered and your house
must be free from any other
liens against it.
Don't be embarrassed
to ask for help, the sooner
you act on this situation,
the better. Ignoring the
problem will not make it go
away.
More questions? Call Hey
MoneyMan at 778-0353.

Career Plans: To retire from the Air National
Guard and eventually become a police sergeant.

Most Interesting Experience: Scuba
di\ ing in the Keys.

Words of Wisdom: Be Patient. Take one step
at a time and be thankful for the time the Lord gives
y^

NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer................Capt. Jack Scorby Jr.
NAS Jacksonville Executive Officer.........................Capt. Steve Holmes
Command Master Chief...............................CMDCM(SW) Chris Green
Public Affairs Officer......................................................... Rick Crews
Assistant Public Affairs Officer..................................... Miriam S. Gallet
Naval Air Station Jacksonville Editorial Staff
Editor......................................................................... Kaylee LaRocque
Assistant Editor ................................... MC2(AW/NAC) Kaitlyn Patterson
Staff W riter.............................................................. QM2 Nicole Beatty
Staff Writer.............................. ....AT2(AW) Andrew Bryson
Design/Layout .............................................................. George Atchley
The IJnAl Niws is an authorized publication for members of the Mili-
tary Services. Contents of the JAI All NiWS do not necessarily reflect the
official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department
of Defense, or the Department of the Navy. The appearance of advertis-
ing in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not consti-
tute endorsement by the Department of Defense, or The Florida Times-
Union, of the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in
the publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital
status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit fac-
tor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or refraction of this
equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher
shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is
corrected.
The deadline for all story and photo submissions is close of business the
Friday before publication, and can be sent to jaxairnews@comcast.net.
The deadline for classified submissions is noon Monday. Questions or
comments can be directed tothe editor. The JMil Nuw can be reached at
(904) 542-3531, fax (904) 542-1534, email JaxAirNews@comcast.net or
write the luAlln&uEn Box 2, NAS Jacksonville, Fla., 32212-5000.
The J Al IRNEWS is published by The Florida Times-Union, a private
firm in no way connected with the U. S. Navy under exclusive written
agreement with the U. S. Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. It is
published every Thursday by The Florida Times-Union, whose offices are
at 1 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Estimated readership over
32,000. Distribution by The Florida Times-Union.
Advertisements are solicited by the publisher and inquiries regarding
advertisements should be directed to:

By Marsha Childs
NHJ Marketing
Nearly 40 Naval Hos-
pital Jacksonville
doctors, nurses, hos-
pital corpsmen and others
gathered at the Jacksonville
City Rescue Mission (CRM)
to serve food the city's dis-
advantaged homeless, many
of whom are military veter-
ans Nov. 9.
"It's veterans serving
other veterans," said Naval
Hospital Jax Commanding
Officer Capt. Raquel Bono.
"I think part of it is we are
a service organization. It is
who we are. Some of the
homeless are veterans who
have served our country
and we need to find ways to
serve them."
One veteran who benefits
from the services offered at
the mission is Beau Skipper
who served eight and a half
months in Iraq in 2003. "At
the end of my enlistment,
I touched it (cocaine)." He
remembered thinking, "I'm
a Marine, I can handle any-
thing." It wasn't until his
second bout with the drug
four months later that he
became addicted.
Skipper traveled to
Jacksonville at the urg-
ing of his family in Indiana
for drug and alcohol treat-
ment. "When I really saw
it unraveling, that's when
I thought, 'There has to be
something else out there,'"
he explained.
Although he has never
been homeless, Skipper
found salvation in the
dRM's New Life Program.
He has been clean and sober
for seven and a half months
and says he is humbled by
the experience. "I want to

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Beau Skipper (left) and U.S. Navy
veteran Cornelius Jackson enjoy a hot meal at the City Rescue
Mission. Volunteers from Naval Hospital Jacksonville served
nearly 300 meals to the homeless on Nov. 9 to support the
homeless, many of whom are military veterans.

give back what the mission
gave to me. Nobody else is
going to help," he concluded.
Navy veteran Cornelius
Jackson also found support
at the mission. He served
shipboard from 1971 to 1975
on the World War II Class
Destroyer, USS Stribling.
He initially completed the
CRM's short-term program
in July 2006 and moved into
VA transitional housing,
but relapsed soon after. "It
doesn't matter where you
are at. If you're not ready,
you're just not ready," he
stated. In March 2007, he
returned to the mission. He
has been clean for seven
months and credits his
recovery to the dedicated
staff.
Director for Development
Valerie Wrenn-Callahan
indicated the CRM staff and
diners were thrilled to have
the hospital volunteers serv-
ing food at the mission. She

noted, "The staff and diners
really, really got a lot out
of it. A lot of our homeless
served in the military and
they have all experienced
incredible things."
CRM Executive Director
R. Patrick Hayle personal-
ly thanked the volunteers
for taking time out of their
busy lives to feed the home-
less and to acknowledge the
homeless veterans. He indi-
cated, "About 75 percent of
all Americans are just one
paycheck away from being
homeless."
The hospital staff also col-
lected more than 40 winter
coats and other items for
the shelter's clothes closet.
When asked why he wanted
to volunteer at the mission,
HMC Roel Gerardo said,
"I'm giving back to our pre-
decessors." HMCM Claude
Coleman added, "I'm just
happy to be here and proud
to serve."

JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, November 22, 2007 3

Naval Safety Center to launch

holiday driving campaign

By April Phillips
Naval Safety Center Public Affairs
The Naval Safety Center (NSC)
launched a Web-based holiday safe
driving campaign Nov. 7.
Last holiday season, NSC predicted that
14 Sailors and Marines would die in pri-
vate motor vehicle (PMV) mishaps between
Thanksgiving and the new year. Sadly, 20
lost their lives. This year, NSC is launch-
ing a new safe driving campaign called
"Surviving Driving: Holidays '07" with
tools to help service members navigate the
highways safely.
"The holidays are a time to celebrate
with loved ones, but they are also a time
of increased risk," said Marine Col. Mark
Vanous, deputy commander of NSC. "More
of our Sailors and Marines are on the high-
ways during this time and many are driv-
ing long hours to get to their destinations,
which increases the odds that tragedy may
strike. Risk management can make the
difference between coming back to work
safely after the new year or winding up as
a statistic."
"Surviving Driving: Holidays '07" is a
Web-based campaign that runs through
New Year's Day. Available resources
include presentations for holiday safety
stand downs, informative articles for com-
mand and base newspapers, a safe driving
flip guide, videos, posters and more.
"Our goal at the -Naval Safety Center is
to provide Sailors and Marines with the
resources they need to avoid mishaps both
on and off the job. Safety plays a huge
Volunteers needed to help
From the Navy Legal Service Office ,
Beginning in January, NAS Jacksonville
will once again offer free tax prepa-
ration services to active duty, depen-
dents, retirees and reservists on active duty
for more than 30 days. Through this program,
service members not only can save hundreds
of dollars on tax preparation fees, but they
also get their refund in just a couple of weeks.
The only way to offer such a service free
of charge is to enlist the aid of volunteers
through the IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income
Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Through
the VITA program, volunteers are trained by
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees
. using IRS-approved software. Volunteers will
attend an intensive week-long course from

role in fleet combat readiness and this
safe driving campaign is part of our com-
mitment to keeping the Navy and Marine
Corps ready to do the job entrusted to us
by the American people," Vanous said.
While PMV deaths may seem unrelated
to combat readiness, the loss of a trained
and ready Sailor or Marine impacts his or
her unit and the fleet as a whole. During
the holidays, fatigued driving and driving
under the influence of alcohol increase and
they are both major causes of traffic fatali-
ties. Another danger related to the season
is driving unreasonable distances without
taking breaks.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
(SW/FMF) Joe Campa Jr. said he under-
stands why Sailors rush to start their holi-
day leave period, but said there's no excuse
for taking unnecessary risks.
"I know what Sailors are thinking when
they get in those cars. They want to get
home. They want to get, the kids to the
grandparents. They want to enjoy the holi-
day as quickly as possible. But get there
safely. One lapse of situational aware-
ness could mean the very worst," Campa
stressed.
The "Surviving Driving: Holidays '07"
campaign material is intended to provide
leaders with the tools they need to educate
their young Sailors and Marines. These
tools will be updated throughout the holi-
day season, so NSC recommends check-
ing back often to take advantage of the
resources.
Visit www.safetycenter.navy.mil to down-
load safe driving materials.
with upcoming tax season

Jan. 7-11 and upon successful completion of
the course volunteers will be certified tax pre-
parers.
Volunteers are needed beginning Jan. 1 until
mid-April. Volunteers should be given no-cost
TAD orders. Part-time volunteers will be con-
sidered on a case-by-case basis due to a short-
age of available seats in the VITA training
course. All potential volunteers should check
with their supervisors before volunteering.
Even if you do not wish to volunteer, come
have your taxes prepared at the tax center!
The location and hours of operation will be
announced at a later date.
To sign up or for more information, contact
Lt. j.g. Wilcox at 270-5445, Ext 3018 or email
jessica.wilcox@navy.mil.

By MCC(SW) Maria Yager
Navy Personnel Command
Public Affairs
More predictability
for Sailors is the
goal as the Navy
transitions from individu-
al augmentee (IA) assign-
ments to global war on
terrorism support assign-
ments announced the chief
of naval personnel (CNP)
Nov. 7.
"The more I talk to
Sailors around the fleet the
more I'm convinced global
war on terrorism support
assignments is the right
thing to do. I look forward
to pressing ahead on this
plan," said Chief of Naval
Personnel Vice Adm. J.C.
Harvey who released
NAVADMIN 297/07 Nov. 7
to provide an update on the
transition.
The Navy first introduced
the global war on terrorism
support assignments detail-
ing concept in June 2007
via NAVADMIN 147/07.
This process allows
Sailors to negotiate for an
IA when it fits their needs.
Eventually it will replace
the need to pull Sailors
from other assignments
mid-tour in order to fill an
IA, according to Deputy
Chief of Naval Personnel
Rear Adm. Sonny Masso.
"We're done studying the
issue. We've tested enough
billets to make sure the
system will work. It's time
to move out and make this
happen," added Masso.
"The plan allows Sailors
to negotiate eight-month
or 14-month PCS orders to
an Expeditionary Combat
Readiness Center (ECRC)
for an assignment in the-
ater in support of the
global war on terror," said
STCM(SW) James Stone,
head enlisted global war on
terrorism support assign-
ment detailer.
In addition to billets in
Iraq and Afghanistan, glob-
al war on terrorism support
assignment detailing will
also cover assignments to
the Horn of Africa, Kuwait,
Bahrain, Germany, South
America, Cuba, Kosovo,
Philippines, and even state-
side duty in Tampa, Fla.
and Arlington, Va.
"The feedback from the
Sailors I've detailed has

been positive so far. They
get to choose where and
when they go, and it helps
commands because they
don't have to choose what
Sailors they are going to
send," said Stone.
Currently information
systems technician, mas-
ter-at-arms and yeoman
are the most in-demand
enlisted ratings, added
Stone. However, Sailors
with comparable skills sets
from other ratings may also
volunteer.
To date, more 372 Sailors
have negotiated orders to
an ECRC for global war on
terrorism support assign-
ments, which coordinates
and supervises Sailors' pre-
deployment training before
sending them in theater.
Approximately 1,500
enlisted global war on ter-
rorism support assign-
ment billets are current-
ly available on Career
Management System-
Interactive Detailing, the
program enlisted Sailors
use to apply for orders.
The Web address is
https://www.cmsid.navy.
mil. Billets are listed under
the category code 90GS.
Officers can contact their
detailer directly for infor-
mation on global war on
terrorism support assign-
ment billets.

Photos by Kaylee LaRocque
Work and Family Life Consultant Wanda Archer of the NAS Jax Fleet and Family Support Center makes a point with the
help of some volunteers from the audience during her presentation on suicide prevention at the NAS Jax Safety Stand
Down at the base theater Nov. 15. "We need to pay attention to our shipmates and families and their behaviors. Watch
for risk factors and warning signs of suicide before it's too late," said Archer. "Don't be a Sailor with a secret. If some-
one needs help, help them get it."

Safety stand down held

(Right) NAS jax Fire Inspector Doug Thomas makes a point
during his presentation on holiday safety precautions,
including cooking tips, following instructions
when decorating, and how to safely
display a Christmas tree.

(Left) Firefighter/paramedic Pat Kelly of the
Stay Alive From Education Program shares some
of his real life work experiences during the NAS
Jax Safety Stand Down. Kelly also talked about
motor vehicle accidents, use of seatbelts and
how drugs and alcohol impair drivers. "The
leading cause of deaths involving young people
is trauma. The No. 1 cause of deaths of military
members are vehicle crashes," explained Kelly.
"And, many times they are preventable."

175 Blanding Blvd. OP 272-6315
www.hobbyworld.blz

I' I

-1 .1 1 1

JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, November 22, 2007 5

FROM THE FLEET

Fitness and appearance

- it reflects who you are

By FLTCM(SW/SS) Rick West
U.S. Fleet Forces Command

Some of you may ask why the
Navy needs to put so much
emphasis on physical fitness.
The answer is simple. Each of us
needs to be ready, at a moment's
notice, to step up and do what's nec-
essary. For some in our ranks, that
means deploying to combat zones
and working long hours in intense
heat. For others, it means deploy-
ing on ships and submarines where
maintaining your physical fitness is
a challenge. My guess is that if you
are not in shape when you deploy,
you will have an uphill battle in try-
ing to improve during deployment.
Getting in shape and staying in
shape is not only a Navy leadership
issue, it's a personal responsibility. If
you are overweight, the person most
accountable for your situation is you.
The Navy is going to continue to offer
opportunities and equipment to help
you lose weight and get in shape, but
ultimately it's you who needs to com-
mit to the program.
If you haven't figured it out yet,
the Navy takes your health serious-
ly, and so should you. As each of us
aspires to leadership, I challenge each
of you to help your shipmates around
you who may need some motivational
help. If you are going to the gym

FLTCM(SW/SS) Rick West

- take someone with you!
Working hard days and weeks on
end will wear you down both physi-
cally and mentally. If you are not in
good physical shape you won't be able
to keep your body and mind sharp.
The same can be said of uniform
appearance - your appearance is a
direct reflection of your attention to
detail and discipline.
If you don't take the time to do the
small things right (uniforms), you
may not give the same level of atten-
tion to your work. Additionally, oth-
ers may not give you the chance to get

involved in important projects that
could positively affect your career if
they feel you don't present an accept-
able appearance. If you cut corners in
your job and don't think appearance
matters, you lower your operational
readiness.
Whether or not the Navy truly
becomes a more fit service depends
on each of us to realize our role, both
personally and as leaders. Command
support is paramount. We need to
promote physical fitness and healthy
lifestyles.
We need to ensure each Sailor has
the opportunity to participate in
physical fitness activities. We need to
ensure those Sailors who are outside
our standard are provided motivation
and assistance to. bring them back
into standards. And that means you!
I am counting on each and every one
of you to do your best to get it shape,
stay in shape, and help your ship-
mates around you to improve their
health as well.
You are all doing some great things
in our Navy, everyday I am amazed at
the talent and work ethic that keeps
our Navy at the forefront. Stay safe
and look out for your shipmates.
Fleet tip: Did you know that Navy
Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Department has trained profession-
als that will assist you with a fitness
regiment. All you have to do is ask!

Photo by Kaylee LaRocque
HMC(SW/FMF) Joshua Davidson of Navy Medicine Support Command gathers some information about smoking and
chewing tobacco as Danny Woodard, Tobacco Cessation Program Manager at the Naval Hospital Jax Wellness Center
talks about the various cessation products available at the Great American Smokeout booth outside the Navy Exchange
Nov. 15. "I am out here today to help people stop smoking, especially the women. I've seen more women in their 40s
and 50s lately with all kinds of horrible diseases from smoking. They say that cigarettes are their best friend and they
just seem to struggle so much more than men when they try to quit," said Woodard. "Smoking kills 5 million people
a year world-wide. This does not include dipping and cigar smoking. We offer numerous alternatives to using tobacco
products and offer free cessation classes for those eligible." For more information on smoking cessation classes, call
542-5292.

A special holiday greeting for families

Information Booths
- with FREE goodies!
Military Working Dog Demonstration
Pet's Photo with Santa
Best Pet Costume, Ugliest Dog and
Pet-wner Look-a-Libe Contests
Sign-up for contests at one of the base wet clinics by Nov. 30 t

From The Florida
Times-Union
Do you have a loved
one in the military
who's serving over-
seas this December? Well,
have we got a way for you
to send him or her your
holiday greetings -- in a big
way!
Just gather up your fam-
ily, friends and neighbors
and create a banner with
your holiday message and
loved one's name on it and
post a photo of the group
holding the banner by visit-
ing MyMandarinSun.com
and clicking on "Upload a
photo."

RADIO CONTROL
HEADQUARTERS
CARS * BOATS * PLANES * TRAINS
hobwrl*i

The largest group photo
in each part of Duval
County will be splashed
across the full cover of the
Sun section that circulates
in that area of town.
Section fronts will also be
uploaded to the Web site for
your loved one to view from

overseas.
Photos must be posted
to the Web site by Dec. 6
and will run in print Dec.
12. Photos that don't make
the covers will be displayed
inside the printed sections
or on the galleries of the
Web sites.

Make sure your photo is
at least 200 dpi; and include
in the caption your loved
one's name, last name of his
or her family, part of town
he or she is from and where
he or she is serving. Include
an e-mail address in case
there are any questions.

OPEN HOUSE
EPISCOPAL
DAY SCHOOL Wednesday, November 28
4114 Oxford Ave. 8 AM - School Library
32210
Tour our campus, meet faculty and
, %inu1teS staff, and see how we offer more
tro, than just challenging academics!

Welcoming qua ad students without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin.

N S Mayport played host to Commander, Navy
Region Southeast's (CNRSE) second Navy Iron
Chef competition with renowned guest, Chef Cat
Cora from Food Networks, Iron Chef America Nov. 13.
Cora was on hand to judge the battle along with CNRSE
Chief of Staff Capt. Mathew Schellhorn and local Chef
Brett Harris from World Grill.
"I think throwing iron chef battles and competitions
between teams is really great for culinary careers for all

CS3 Phillip Waddell and CS3 Jacob Settle from Naval Air
Station Jacksonville Flight Line Cafe work together to make
one of three dishes they have to create from using potatoes
during the Commander, Navy Region Southeast second Navy
Iron Chef competition Nov. 13.

Culinary specialists and chefs gather the secret ingredient,
potatoes, for the second Commander, Navy Region Southeast
Navy Iron Chef competition. Each team had to create three
different dishes utilizing the potatoes, pantry items provided
Sand spices and special equipmenthey brought.

(From left) CS3 Dennis Monroe, CS3 Phillip Waddell and CS3
Jacob Settle meet Chef Cat Cora of Food Networks, Iron Chef
America during the competition.
the enlisted. It really gives them a chance to put their
skills to use in a competition style format. I think they
learn a lot from each other, seeing the different food and
quality," said Cora. "Speed skill, technique, it's an all
encompassing benefit for everybody."
The battle began as the eight teams from various com-
mands comprised of Navy culinary specialists and Morale,
Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Food and Beverage Teams
throughout the Southeast Region were told the secret
ingredient they had to use in their dishes was the potato.
The teams had to create three different dishes using the
various potatoes, pantry items provided and their own
special spices and equipment.
Regional Food Service Officer CWO3 Kathy Wiseman
says that this event will allow the cooks the opportunity
to produce something new off the top of their heads by
not letting them know the main ingredient until the last
minute. She hopes the competition will help them perfect
their skills so they can give troops on the ships a variety.
"It was a tough competition. It was very cool. I liked that
the cooks were allowed to use their imagination. It forces
them to be creative which is what the judges were looking
for," remarked CSCS Deanna Decker, leading culinary
specialist and assistant food service officer at the NAS Jax
Flight Line Caf6.
"They were judged on originality, plating, taste and
mise en place (putting all the ingredients together). You
could earn up to 50 points. The teams knew what they
were being judged on, but they didn't realize that the top
teams that won used the secret ingredient ,which was
potatoes, as their main ingredient and not as a side item.
We weren't the last team, and we were very competitive."
Competitors filled their pans with the potatoes and
headed to kitchen area to create dishes to wow the judges
of their skills of presentation, originality, a great tasting
meal.
"It was awesome. It was an opportunity to do something
new, something that we as E4s in the Navy had never
been a part of before. It's a change of pace compared to
the volume of cooking that we do in the galley. We knew
it was going to be challenging, but weren't really sure of
what we were getting into," said CS3 Jacob Settle of the
NAS Jax Flight Line Cafe.
"We had three people on our team and broke it down,
one of us created the appetizer, one made the main entree
and one made the dessert. We worked together and offered
each other ideas. We didn't win, but we'll try again next
time.',

to see who would be crowned the 2007 Commander, Navy
Region Southeast Navy Iron Chef.
Taking home first place with their care asada steak
rolled with red potato with sharp cheddar and topped with
pico de gallo, seared swordfish over a gold potato crust
with parmesan burre blanc and a tasty mashed sweet
potato with a graham cracker crust topped with whipped
cream and toasted coconut was guided-missile frigate USS
McInerney (FFG-8) at NS Mayport.
All judges agreed that their presentation was outstand-
ing, utilization and originality of the potatoes was creative
and the overall balance was not only exceptional, but the
seasonings of the meal stood out.
"My favorite two dishes were the care asada appetizers
from the McInerney and their mashed sweet; potato pie,"
exclaimed Cora. "The portions were just the right size and
the tastes were phenomenal. I can actually see them being
served at a restaurant."
The NS Mayport Oasis Galley team took second place
and Mayport MWR team finished third.

Team members from the Naval Hospital jax Child Street Cafe prepare their special meal during the competition.

CS3 Phillio Waddell and C$S' Jacob Settle of the NAS Jax Fligh* Line Cafe carefully accent their plate before serving them to the judges duping the competition.

8 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, November 22, 2007

CHAPLAIN'S CORNER

Thanksgiving as a lifestyle

By Chaplain (Lt.) Joe Molina
NAS Jax Chapel
Certain lady went to visit her friend
and took her 6-year-old son, Johnny
along. Upon arriving at the house,
the boy started to complain that he was
hungry.
The friend offered Johnny an orange.
Immediately after the lady
offered him the orange
Johnny's mother said to
him, "Now what do you say,
Johnny?" Johnny looked at
the orange, handed it back
to the gracious lady and
said, "Peel it." Hardly an
expression of "thanksgiv-
ing." '
Unfortunately, so many of
us take the gifts life brings \
for granted. Like Johnny, ,
we may not do well at being '\,
thankful. Thanksgiving, or Chaplain (Lt
should I say "thanks-living"
(living with an attitude of gratitude) is
important if we are to enjoy the fullness
of life. Possessing an ever-greater abil-
ity to appreciate what we already have is
an even greater challenge in our day and
time. I'm afraid that there are some that
may never be truly satisfied with the gifts
they already have.
For this Thanksgiving holiday I would
like to express some thoughts about proper
gratitude, or better yet, how to maintain
an attitude of "thanks-living" in our lives
that will carry us beyond this most unique
American of holidays.
Let's begin with the following truism:
"thanksgiving is an attitude." An attitude
is a behavior. Because it is a personal
behavior we do exert a high degree of con-
trol over it. The Thanksgiving Holiday
invites us to participate in this spirit of
inner gratitude. It is an "attitude of grati-
tude" that can teach us so much about bal-
anced living because there truly is so much
to be thankful for everyday. This lifestyle
or "thanks-living" can pervade all of life
and make an important contribution to the

way we live all of life. How can this be?
Well, first of all, living thankfully is
not the same as being "happy" all the
time. Happiness is a feeling. Happiness
is a response to a particular experience.
Thankful living ("thanks-living) is a behav-
ior based on a decision of my will. This
decision is grounded on the unchanging
reality that life itself is a gift and wor-
thy of fruitful living. I have
discovered that it is further
based on the truth that God
has given me a life to expe-
rience in all its abundance,
^ in all its vitality. What's
the practical translation of
all this?
S1. If I've smashed my
thumb with a hammer, I
still have the rest of my fin-
Sl gers.
l 2. If I've been in a car
accident, it could've been a
Joe Molina lot worse.
3. If the Jags lost again,
well, they can't get any worse (I'm in trou-
ble now).
To be sure, the foundation, the reality
of "thanks-living" is founded on the objec-
tive, palpable fact that the life we live and
breathe is precious because it is a gift from
the almighty. Therefore, "thanks-living" is
an elevation of the heart.
Here's a reality check. Do we go through
the motions of living (as though we're the
walking dead) or do we live with a sense
of the presence of God? This "behavior"
is a choice. It's always a choice. This path
of gratitude isn't easy but it's worth the
effort. See what there is to be thankful
for rather than dwelling on the negative
things. Some of you already have this atti-
tude: of "thanks-living." I've seen it in you
and it's contagious. It has encouraged me.
So in preparation for this national holi-
day which is so distinctly American in its
culture, let us use this time to. remember
that "thanks-living" is a life-long calling.
On behalf of NAS Chapel Center staff,
have a blessed arid safe Thanksgiving hdli-
day.

T he Spiritual Fitness
Division Southeast
offers a variety of
spiritual retreats for any-
one holding a Department
of Defense ID card who
is over the age of 18. All
transportation, program-
ming, lodging and meals
are free. Retreats are
held at the Sea Retreat
Center in St. Simons, Ga.
Registration is on a first
come, first serve basis by
calling 270-6958. The fol-
lowing retreats are coming
up:

Personal Growth Retreat -
Dec. 11-14 and Feb. 7-10, 2008
This retreat is a safe place where
you can "defrag" the issues of
your life with the opportunity
to understand yourself better,
develop a healthier personal
responsibility and gain a
new perspective on life and
relationships.
Marriage Enrichment Retreat
- Jan. 11-13, 2008
The goal of this retreat is to
provide an environment where
a couple may work on their
intimacy as a couple by talking
about communication styles,
potential problems, using the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to
talk about the different personality
types and their preferences and
how they affect relationships.

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10-11, 2008
This is a time to devote yourself
fully to assessing where you
are spiritually, a time to nurture
yourself and gain a vision of
where you want to go. It's also
a time to understand the spiritual
journey of others and incorporate
that into your own growth and
understanding.

MUST BE 21 YEARS OR OLDER - OFFER VALID ONLY IN CA, CO, FL, MO AND
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VOID IF TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PHOTOCOPIED OR DUPLICATED - OFFER
EXPIRES DECEMBER 29, 2007 - OTHER RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY.

ABH2(AW/SW) Michael Waldrop carefully paints around one
of the stars on one of the insignias.

Air Ops

personnel

display .their

artistic talents

By Lt. Scott Myers
Air Operations Department

Several members of the NAS Jax Air Operations
Transient Line recently demonstrated their cre-
ative skills by repainting the two huge NAS Jax
insignias located in front of the Air Operations building.
The talented group of aviation boatswain's mates (ABs)
from the Transient Line spent countless hours and some
of their own hard-earned money to repaint the two NAS
Jax insignias.
The insignias have been part of the department's land-
scape since the 1940s and needed a refurbishing due to
the sun bleaching out the color and wording. The ABs
noticed the weathered paint and decided to make a dif-
ference. "We saw that this project needed to be done and
decided that instead of waiting for contractors to work on
it, we would take it on and get it done," said ABH2(AW/
SW) Michael Waldrop, who helped with the project. "We
wanted our base to stand out when transient pilots stop in
here and let them know we have the best naval air station
in the Navy and that we take pride in our division."
So thanks to some hard work and dedication of a few
Sailors, some special symbols of our naval heritage have
been preserved for years to come.

(From left) ABE3(AW) Belinda Arechiga, ABE2 Robert Lamothe, ABH3(AW) Johnny Sarante and ABH2(AW/
SW) Michael Waldrop proudly display their work of the NAS jax insignia located in front of the NAS Jax Air
Operations building. The group spent hours refurbishing two insignias that were faded from the weather.

9 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU:
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12 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, November 22, 2007
lo

Theron Colbert shows his balancing skills with some help
from Team Rootberry during the free show at the Youth
Activities Center Nov. 15. More than 100 children and their
parents witnessed first hand the best juggling and stunts ever
performed by Team Rootberry - Jonathan Root and Bill Berry!
Their juggling credentials include five international juggling
championships and three world records. The show was spon-
sored by Navy and Armed Forces Entertainment. For more
information on Youth Activities, call 778-9772.

Bill Berry demonstrates his very dangerous and impressive
sword-swallowing stunt.

Maybe you need help. That doesn't make you any less tough.
You and your family are making sacrifices and living with pressures that most civilians
never have to face. Each year, Wekiva Springs helps hundreds of active duty service personnel
and their family members deal with issues like depression, substance abuse, and more.
Wekiva Springs offers confidentiality, privacy and comfort in a secluded, peaceful setting.
We develop specialized treatment plans for:
* Depression
* Addictions
. Trauma recovery
' War Zone Stress (PTSD)
* Eating disorders - adults and adolescents
* Other mental wellness issues
We are a certified Tricare provider.
Wekiva Springs and Ten Broeck Hospital offer help for the entire family.
Contact us today at 1.877.339.6636 or 904.899.7980

First
- Juanita
Watson, VP-
16 - 30:38
Second
- GiGi
Neff, MWR
- 32:05
Special
thanks to the
Jacksonville
Jam Profes-
sional Bas-
ketball Team
for sponsor-
ing the run.
Each par-
ticipant that
placed in the
race received
two free tick-
ets to one of
their games
for the up-
coming 2007-
2008 season.
The next
MWR-spon-

scored run will be the annual
Jingle Bell Jog Dec. 14 at 11:30
a.m. For more information, call
542-3239/3518.
Neither MWR nor the U.S. Navy
or any other part of the federal
government officially endorses
any company, sponsor, or its frod-
ucts or services.

Bobby Ralston of VR-58 comes across the finish line to
take second place in the men's 29 and under category with
a time of 19:23.

Bryan Mullins from VP-30 happily accepts two tickets to a Jacksonville Jam
game from NAS jax Fitness Director Tim McKinney after placing first over-
all in the men's category and first in the men's 29 and under category with
a time of 18:59.

N.

NAS Jax Fitness Director Tim McKinney presents Susan Miller of VR-58
with two tickets to a Jacksonville Jam game after she took first place in
the women's overall category and women's 38-44 category with a time of
19:45.

t's a great time to buy; every SEDA
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14 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, November 22, 2007

Heart of Gold Awards nominations needed

From Volunteer Jacksonville, Inc.
Volunteer Jacksonville, Inc. is look-
ing for nominations of those indi-
viduals who have provided volun-
teer services to a nonprofit organization
in one of the following counties: Baker,
Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. John's.
Volunteer service cannot be a paid job
function for the nominee. Nominations
cannot be accepted if the nominee has
received a Heart of Gold award within the
last two years and employees of Volunteer
Jacksonville and their families are not
eligible.
Nomination instructions
* The original nomination form must be
filled out completely. Please print or type
legibly. Forms can be downloaded at www.
volunteerjacksonville.org/index.htm.
* Well-written forms score higher with
judges.
* One nominee per form unless you are
nominating a group (must be at least three
people).
- Please verify all nominee contact infor-
mation before sending.

* If you send support materials such
as brochures, newspaper articles, photo-
graphs, newsletters, CD's, videos or letters
of recommendation, they will be considered
and then discarded.
* Nomination forms are the property
of Volunteer Jacksonville and will not be
returned.
* Forms should be sent to Volunteer
Jacksonville, Inc. Attn: Lynn Weise Mora,
6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 1902,
Jacksonville, FL 32216
* We will notify the nominator when the
nomination form has been received.
Please do not contact Volunteer
Jacksonville to see if your nominee has
won. We will contact the Heart of Gold
award recipients and their nominators by
Jan. 31. Decisions made by the indepen-
dent panel of community judges are final.
Volunteer Jacksonville reserves the right
to provide information about volunteers
and their volunteer activities to the news
media.
For more information, call Lynn Weise
Mora at 332-6767, Ext. 18.

Nominations sought for African-American

History Month Recognition Awards

From Chief of Naval Personnel Diversity
Directorate
The Department of Defense (DoD)
is seeking nominations for its
African American History Month
Recognition Awards through Dec. 17.
The awards honor service men and
women who have supported the global
war on terrorism, demonstrating "role
model" qualities and the core values of
their respective military service. The per-
formance period for this award is from
February 2007 to February 2008. The Navy
will recognize one active component mem-
ber and one reserve component member.
One of the Navy's 2007 award winners
noted this award was not just about recog-
nizing an individual.
"I represent a whole lot of other people

with this award - my culture, my country,
my command. It's a big honor," said then
SKC Linda Joyce Cline.
DoD will present the awards at an event
recognizing Black History Month being
planned for February 2008.
Details for the event will be provided
at a later date. Nominees will be asked to
attend the recognition event. Commands
should provide funded orders to cover
expenses incident to attendance, including
transportation, per diem, and registration
fees.
Award nominations are to be submitted
by Dec. 17 by e-mail to MILLNavy_EO_
Advice@navy.mil.
Further award criteria and nomina-
tion submission information is available
at www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/
Diversity.

ON THE Go WITH USO

From the USO

Support San Diego shipmates
The NAS Jax USO is a drop-off loca-
tion for gift cards' to help ease the finan-
cial burden some military families are fac-
ing due to the San Diego area fires. Gift
cards of value for Target, Wal-Mart, Navy
Exchange and military commissaries will
be accepted and forwarded on.
Orlando Magic "Seats for Soldiers" '
free tickets
Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Bobcats -
Nov. 23, 7 p.m. at the Amway Arena in
Orlando. "Seats for Soldiers" is a partner-
ship between the Orlando Magic and the
Greater Jacksonville Area USO, in which
free tickets are given to active duty mili-
tary and their families for specific games.
Requests for tickets are now being accept-
ed and will be distributed the week of Nov.,
19. Visit www.usojax.org to download a

"We take stock of everything else. Why not take stock of our
greatest assets, our boys and girls?" - Father Franavan
Father Edward Flanagan, 1886-1948
Founder, Girls and Boys Town
www.girlsandboystown.org

Girls

A CFC artici an~t ovided a. Ic service

ticket request form. Fax the ticket request
form to 241-0463.
Free Thanksgiving meal
Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q will honor families of
deployed service members on Thanksgiving'
with a free Thanksgiving feast and fam-
ily fun event at their restaurant on Gate
Parkway and Jay Turner Butler Boulevard.
Meal times are at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and
2 p.m. Space is limited so stop by the NAS
Jax or NS Mayport USO office to pick up a
free ticket.
Daytona 500 Experience
The Daytona 500 Experience "The offi-
cial attraction of NASCAR," is celebrating
Armed Forces Month during November by
offering free admission to all members of
the military. Family members who attend
with the military ID holder receive $10 off
the admission price. For more information,
visit www.daytona500experience.com.

Special Contributor
hanksgiving. We celebrate
Thanksgiving this week and this
is my fourth year of composing a
Thanksgiving column. I've been pondering
this holiday for weeks, mostly pondering
what can I write about that hasn't already
been written by other, more talented col-
umnists.
Then the fires hit California on the heels
of a tornado in Pensacola, in the midst
of a very real drought in the south while
the global war on terrorism continues. I
thought to myself, how can I write about
Thanksgiving? How can I talk about giv-
ing thanks when things are so tough for
so many? So I decided to research the orig-
inal, first Thanksgiving and I made an
interesting discovery.
Wikipedia states, "Thanksgiving, or
Thanksgiving Day, is an annual one-day
holiday to give thanks, historically to God,
for the things one has at the end of the
harvest season . . . ."
Hmm . . . is that all? So I did bit more
research. In school plays and cartoons we
see the Pilgrims and Native Americans
sitting down to a huge feast celebrating
the harvest. And, inferred is "they all lived
happily ever after."
After enduring such a devastating winter
they couldn't kick back and take a summer
vacation. Their summer was full of long
hours of hard work. They gardened; they
felled trees (without modern equipment)
and built homes, fencing, with primitive
tools. The summer was hard.
From their writings we know that the
pilgrims were a deeply religious, Christian,
people. Have you ever wondered why after
such suffering, that they didn't get angry
and curse God or at the least just ignore
him? Have you ever gardened? It is not
exactly a recreational activity. The pil,
grims spent the entire summer building
homes, gardening - working long hard
hours in hopes of faring better through the

next winter. Instead of bitterness toward
the God that allowed them to suffer, they
took time to give thanks. The pilgrims gave
thanks for surviving, surviving! They had
no guarantee that the next winter would
be much better than the previous, but they
gave thanks.
I am spoiled. I enjoy the-bounty and pros-
perity of living in an affluent country. I
have many creature comforts that I enjoy
and I live on a military salary. I am also
embarrassed to admit how ungrateful I
can be for all that I have. I have to admit
I don't like to suffer and I generally don't
suffer quietly.
Like the pilgrims, there are always going
to be hurdles, challenges, difficulties to
be faced in the future. You may be in the
midst of one right now. Those challenges
are real and I do not want to dismiss your
anguish in any way. Rather, I want to offer
my thoughts and prayers for you.
Is it possible that the pilgrims under-
stood the power of gratefulness? In my own
life when I dwell on that is 'wrong' in my
life (another holiday separated from fam-
ily, dead car battery, chronic back pain,
another deployment) I'm not exactly the
life of the party. But when my focus is
on what I do have (a husband who loves
me dearly, who serves our country, lovely
home, creature comforts, rich friendships
and that is just to start . . .) my attitude
changes. My heart lightens and is full of
joy. Yes, I have struggles. There are many
enduring much more difficult struggles
than. I. In the midst of these challenges
we can take stock of all that we have, and
be grateful, we will experience joy, con-
tentment, and perhaps most importantly
hope and courage for the future. Happy
Thanksgiving!

Question or comment for Beth? Email her
at beth@homefrontinfocus.com. Check out
her internet talk show for Navy spouses,
Navy Homefront Talk!, at www.blogtalkra-
djo.com/nht.

Our Support,

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your career. Brenau University gives military families a break by discounting
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JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, November 22, 2007 15

Remember food safety during the holiday season

By Kay Blakley
DeCA
Sharing holiday meals with friends
and family is an important part of
the holiday season. Do partake of
the season's merriment, but don't invite
food poisoning to join the party by using
careless food-handling practices. With a
little bit of care and knowledge, foodborne
illness is almost entirely preventable.
Consider these four tips:
1. Cook thoroughly: If a golden-brown,
whole turkey will be the centerpiece of your
holiday table, a meat thermometer should
be among your "must-have" kitchen uten-
sils. It's the only sure way to tell if food
has reached the desired state of doneness
and a temperature high enough to destroy
harmful bacteria. Use an oven temperature
no lower than 325 degrees Fahrenheit and
continue to roast until the thermometer
shows a minimum internal temperature
of 165 degrees. This is the lowest tem-
perature at which bacteria and viruses are

destroyed, according to food safety experts.
However, for reasons of personal prefer-
ence, consumers may choose to cook turkey
to the traditional temperature levels of
175 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit in the thigh
and 165 to 170 in the breast. Check the
temperature in the innermost part of the
thigh and wing and in the thickest part of
the breast. Make sure the thermometer is
not touching bone, fat-or gristle. For safety
sake, it is best not to stuff the turkey, but
to bake the stuffing separately in a casse-
role. If you simply must cook the stuffing
inside the bird, check the stuffing tempera-
ture separately. Even if the turkey itself
has reached the desired temperature, cook-
ing must continue until the center of the
stuffing has reached 165 degrees.
2. Keep it clean: Wash your hands,
including under your fingernails, thor-
oughly and often with soap and water.
Remember that bacteria can enter the pic-
ture from numerous sources-handling the
telephone, petting the dog, taking a bath-

Photo by Kaylee LaRocque
AMAN Alex Hrusa of VP-30, left, and RP3 Shaun Vanasselberg of the NAS Jax Chapel
load boxes filled with 283 donated shoeboxes full of goodies for children in need to be
delivered to the First Baptist Church of Orange Park as chapel volunteer Grace Heffner
looks on. The project was part of this year's Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas
Child. The shoeboxes were donated by members of the chapel's congregation and
numerous outside organizations. More than 7 million shoeboxes were donated to 100
different countries, including the United States, last year to help bring joy and hope to
children in need.

room break, wiping the baby's runny nose
or brushing her hair out of her face, even
handling dirty dishes. Wash up again after
any of these or other interruptions, and
dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel or
paper towel. Change kitchen towels, spong-
es and dishcloths often. Bacteria can linger
on linen used repeatedly between launder-
ings. Always launder these items in hot
water, because the cold water wash may
not kill all the bacteria. Use paper towels
to wipe counters and floor spills. Wash
countertops, cutting boards and utensils in
hot soapy water between each step in food
preparation. Be sure dishes are fully clean
and dry before putting them away. Even
tiny bits of food soil along with moisture
trapped between the dishes sets up a per-
fect environment for bacteria to grow.
3.- Separate raw and cooked foods:
Experts agree that accidental food-to-food
or surface-to-food cross contamination is
one of the biggest culprits in the spread of
foodborne illness. For example, say some
juice from your thawed turkey seeps onto
the countertop or onto your cutting board.
You wipe up the spill with a paper towel,
then cut lettuce and other vegetables on
the same contaminated countertop and
cutting board. Although the surface may
look clean, bacteria from the poultry may
still be present-and may have transferred
to the salad makings. Your friends and
family eat the salad and now run the risk
of becoming ill.
Even more common is the following sce-
nario. You prepare the turkey for roasting
by removing the giblets and neck from
inside the bird. You rub the inside cavity
with salt, using your fingers and gener-
ously apply butter to the outside of the
bird with, you guessed it, your bare hands!

(We'll assume your hands and nails have
been thoroughly scrubbed beforehand.) You
lift the turkey into the roasting pan, wip-
ing your hands on the kitchen towel sev-
eral times throughout the process. You use
that same towel to open the oven door and
slide the turkey in. The pan of potatoes on
top of the stove starts to boil over, so you
use the towel as a potholder to lift the lid.
As you turn down the heat with one hand,
you pick up a spoon with the other hand,
and give the pot a good stir. As you stir,
you notice the yeast rolls set to rise on
the back of the stove look a little dry, so
you dampen the notorious towel with a
little water from the faucet, and carefully
lay it over the rolls. We could carry this
on and on, but by now I'm sure you have
the picture. You've contaminated half the
kitchen by transferring any microscopic
beings residing on or in the turkey, first to
your hands, then to the towel and finally to
the numerous other items you touched. We
won't even mention the fire hazard you've
created with the flammable towel so close
to the heat of the stove.
Be aware of cross-contamination pos-
sibilities every step of the way, beginning
in your grocery basket, continuing to your
meat or poultry thawing in the refrigerator
and all the way through the meal prepa-
ration process. Wash hands and utensils
often with soap and water. Use paper tow-
els and dispose of them immediately after
handling raw meat or poultry, and change
cloth kitchen towels often.
4. Refrigerate, thaw, serve and store
foods properly. Keep hot foods hot and cold
foods cold: No doubt you've heard this at
least a hundred times, but good advice

Jacksonville Jaguar tickets on sale now!
Ticket prices $40 - $56.50 (Limit four tick-
ets per game per person)
Ride the ITT Jaguar shuttle for only $10
per'game or $80 for all regular home sea-
son games.

Military Appreciation Days at NAS Jax
Golf Club
New rates! $15 per person, includes cart
and 18-holes green fee
Dec. 4 and 18 for active duty.
Nov. 22, Dec. 6 and 20 for retirees and
Department of Defense personnel.

Registration for Flo-
rida Community Col-
lege at Jacksonville's
2008 Spring Term which
runs Jan. 7 through May 2
is ongoing through May 1.
If you have not been able
to get into the class you
wanted in the past, we
highly recommend early
registration to reserve a
seat.
Placement testing is
required for math and
English courses. Allow 48
hours for Navy College to
process your tuition assis-
tance voucher.

Sponsors

needed for

'08 events

From Staff

The Morale, Welfare,
and Recreation
(MWR) Department
of the Navy at NAS Jack-
sonville is currently seek-
ing sponsorship for fiscal
year 2008 special events
and programs.
Your efforts will support
active duty service members
and their families. Your
company will market to more
than 25,000 base personnel.
For more information
on how organizations can
become a sponsor, please
contact Shannon Leonard,
MWR marketing direc-
tor, at 542-3577 or e-mail
Shannon.d.Leonard@navy.
mil.

Course/Title
English Composition I
English Composition II
Humanities in the Americas
College Algebra
Elementary Algebra
Intermediate Algebra
Statistics
Life in Its Biological Environment
Introduction to Computer Concepts
Principles of Economics
English Composition I
English Composition II
Western Civilization: 1589 to Present
Humanities: Mainstreams of Cultures
15th to 20th Century
Elementary Algebra
General Psychology
Speech

The following list of
classes will be held at NAS
Jacksonville for the spring